Extension
It Starts With Us
Develop Individuals for Volunteer Roles
Engaging volunteers to be active community leaders
Rebecca Miller, Michelle Brock and Brian Good
Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association
Community Leadership Development
Leadership
Volunteers are important in building engaged and empowered communities.
Leadership is a needed and important programming emphasis in Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. Extension provides opportunities to youth and families to help improve their leadership ability and create more positive futures. Leadership opportunities for youth create a setting that reduces the access of youth to risk factors that can negatively impact their success.
Basic leadership knowledge & skills are essential for success in almost any field. The skills associated with leadership are necessary when working in a group or communicating with others. Employers look for leadership skills in the persons they hire. Developing leadership in the youth and adults who are involved in Extension programming is a priority. By assisting the development of leadership skills in today’s youth, we improve their ability to face the challenges of tomorrow. (Unlock Your Leadership Potential, University of Florida)
The development of life skills (such as leadership) allows youth to cope with their environment by making responsible decisions, having a better understanding of their values, and being better able to communicate and get along with others. (Boyd, Herring & Briers, 1992, Journal of Extension).
Building the capacity of volunteer leaders within counties is critical for the sustainability of a community infrastructure that supports long term commitment to strengthen families. Within Bell County, there are 99 homemaker members, 5 Master Gardeners, 28 4-H Youth enrolled in Leadership programming, 40 volunteers who serve on Extension Program Councils, share their expertise, and volunteer time with youth and families in their community. Through the efforts of the FCS, 4-H and Agriculture Agents, paraprofessionals, and our volunteers- local citizens are engaged, educated and empowered to understand family and community issues and take ownership of implementing local solutions.
Clientele will serve as teen and adult leaders in their communities, community organizations, and as mentors for younger youth. Adults and youth will contribute to self, family, community and to the institutions of our society.
Youth and adults will demonstrate the understanding of diversity, inclusiveness and multiculturalism in their daily life.
Youth and adults will identify and address critical issues that impact the community.
Youth and adults will use leadership and communications skills needed to be successful in the workplace on a daily basis.
Clientele practice personal leadership skills in clubs, schools and community outreach.
Adults and youth will demonstrate improved skills in communication, problem solving, or group process in addressing organizational issues and needs.
Adults and 4-H Youth apply skills to assess needs, develop programs and implement solutions for community problems.
Adults and youth increase knowledge and skills in personal leadership, community leadership and the decision-making process.
Clientele will learn the communication, leadership and procedural skills (Robert's Rules of Order) that will allow them to run a meeting.
Youth will learn about leadership styles and will be able to identify positive and negative leadership characteristics.
Initial Outcome: Adults and youth in clubs will increase knowledge and skills in personal leadership, community leadership and the decision-making process.
Indicator: Clientele will illustrate effectively how to conduct a meeting following Robert's Rules of Order.
Method: Observation of club/council/board meetings and review of minutes.
Timeline: on going
Intermediate Outcome: Adults and youth will demonstrate improved skills in leadership, communication, problem solving, or group process in addressing organizational issues and needs.
Indicator: Clientele demonstrate improved skills in leadership, communication, problem solving, or group process in addressing organizational issues and needs.
Method: Visual observation of meetings, activities
Timeline: on going
Long-term Outcome: Clientele will serve as teen and adult leaders in their communities, community organizations, and as mentors for younger youth. Adults and youth will contribute to self, family, community and to the institutions of our society.
Indicator: Clientele will develop their leadership skills and serve their communities through teaching activities or programs, serving on boards and councils, volunteering in their communities and succeeding in education.
Method: Long-term individual surveys, Extension involvement, written or oral evaluation/reports.
Timeline:on going
Audience: Adults and youth
Project or Activity: Educational Activities: passing skills on to others
Content or Curriculum: UK Publications on projects
Inputs: agents, specialist, volunteers, facilities
Date: July 2024-June 2025
Audience: young adults/ youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Junior Homemaker Club
Content or Curriculum: UK Publications on projects
Inputs: agents, specialist, volunteers, facilities, community partners
Date: July 2024-June 2025
Audience: farmers, adults
Project or Activity: Agriculture Advancement Council
Content or Curriculum: UK publications, KELD
Inputs: Agents, volunteers, paid staff, grants, facilities
Date: July 2024-June 2025
Audience: farmers, adults
Project or Activity: Agriculture Development Council
Content or Curriculum: UK publications, KELD
Inputs: Agents, volunteers, paid staff, grants, facilities
Date: July 2024-June 2025
Audience: young adults and adults
Project or Activity: 4-H Council
Content or Curriculum: UK publications, KELD
Inputs: staff, facilities, volunteers, donations from civic groups
Date: Fall 2024 and Spring 2025
Audience: homemakers
Project or Activity: Bell County Extension Homemaker Council
Content or Curriculum: UK Publications, KELD, KEHA training handouts, KEHA manual and website
Inputs: volunteers, agents, State Advisors
Date: bi-monthly
Audience: homemakers
Project or Activity: Bell County Extension Homemaker leaders trainings
Content or Curriculum: UK Publications, KEHA training handouts, KEHA manual and website
Inputs: volunteers, agents, State Advisors
Date: July 2024-June 2025
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: Middlesboro 4-H Club
Content or Curriculum: 4-H publications and curriculum
Inputs: agents, volunteers, community members, facilities
Date: July 2024-June 2025
Audience:4-H youth and adults
Project or Activity: 4-H camp
Content or Curriculum: UK publications and 4-H volunteer training materials
Inputs: agents, camp staff, volunteers
Date: summer 2025
Audience: youth
Project or Activity:4-H Character Counts
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum , Lesson Plans Good Ideas
Inputs: agents, schools, volunteers, community members, family resource
Date: July 2024-June 2025
Audience: youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Communications/4H poster Contest
Content or Curriculum: 4- H curriculum, Putting It Together/Communication Activities, from other college extension
Inputs: agents, schools, volunteers, community members, family resource centers
Date: July 2024-June 2025
Audience: adult leaders/volunteers
Project or Activity: 4-H Volunteer Forum
Content or Curriculum: UK content/KELD
Inputs: agents, schools, volunteers, community members, family resource centers
Date: Winter 2026
Audience: 4-H youth 9-18
Project or Activity: 4-H Ham project
Content or Curriculum: UK content/publications
Inputs: agents, schools, volunteers, community members
Date: Jan- Aug 2025
Audience: homemakers
Project or Activity: Annual homemaker kick off
Content or Curriculum: KEHA materials/UK Pubs
Inputs: agents, KEHA, state advisors
Date: Fall 2024
Audience: Adults, Community Members, Community Partners, Teens
Project of Activity: Bell County Extension Council
Content or Curriculum: County Extension Council State Resources
Inputs: Agents, State Advisors, Council Members, Community Members
Date: Fall 2024, Spring 2025
Audience: Youth/Teens
Project of Activity: Leadership Skills You Never Outgrow.
Content or Curriculum: University of Illinois Extension
Inputs: Agents, Schools, community partners
Date: Sept. 2024, April 2025
